Car-door-locking means.



J. M. ROHLFLNG.

CAR DOOR LOCKING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2s. |915.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. M. ROHLFING.

CAR DOOR LOCKING MEANS.

APPLICATION msn SEPT. 28. |915.

Patented Oct. 30, 191'?g 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

-nsTAfliEs PATENT JQHN RQHLFINQQOF STE Louis, `i1/riss013312. Ass/lemon TO'AMEBICAN AND,I

FOUNDRY coMrANY, QF sT..1icUIs,1/iissonn1a conPonATroN or NEW JERSEY.

chancen-LOCKING MEANS. Y' i` Spe'cicatin of LettersvPaterntfV i l original application inea May 27, 1914, serial No. 841,280, lwhich rsnnedmrateitno.' 1,184,024, dated May 23, 1916. nvideavand thisappuatitn l''a september 2s, 1915.*- se'ria'l Noi 53,028;

To all/whom t mag/concern i Be it known that I, JOHN M". Ronmme, residing' at St. Louis, Missouri, and being a: citizen or' the United tateshave invente' ed certain new andL useful'lrnprovernents in lar-DoonLockingMeans, 'of which the fol#V lowing cis" afull, clearly andexact` description, such as willenable others skilledfinfthe art -to which it appertains to make'an-dto use'the sa1ne,reference beinghadfto thefaccompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred form' of the invention, though' it is lto be understoodthatthelinventionis not limited to the exact details of construction shown 'and described, as it isobvious'that various \lnnodications v thereof* willy occur to persons skilled in the'art. f

In* said drawings:

- Figure 1 is a horizontalsection cfa hop-r per portion of adu'mp car, showing the door operating" and locking" mechanism in plan'. Fig. 2 isa Vertical sectionv through the saine portion oi' the car kandis Vtaken centrally and -longitudin'allyl thereof.

Fig. 3 isa transverse section through the car and istakenonv line 3-3 of Fig. 1."

F 4L is 'a transverseseetion through the center sills and portions or' theV doors olfv the car, and illustrates one ofthe door-locking; devices,lbeing taken*y online` 1f-4C of Fig. 1; and

1F 5 is 'a similar transversesection lout'V is taken on line'--' yof'Figyl and'shows the door raising-'chains passing 'overonefof tachn'ient devices on the doors.- f This invention' relates tolthe opening and closing of the doors of a dump car a'iidto lneans forf'locking the doors when in closed position and this application is ra division of my application on car door operating Inech'ani'siny-Serial'No. 841,280, filed May 27, 1914, which 'resulted in Patent 1,184,024, dated May 23,1916;

.Provision is also made forunlocking the doors at such tiines as it is desiredto discharge lading, and the arrangements are suchv that theweight ofy the loadcarried Aby their roller SuppOrts'aIid eXtendingfto at# thetcarwill yoperatethe doors to nieve themv to their open positions.

AMechanism is 'included bythe use vof which! the doors' may readily be returned'ito theirl closed positions after the lading has been discharged, and, .as the" doorsha've v-been re! lieved' oflthe weight formerly sustaindfby them, the door-closing' parts of the mechastruction".vr

' vInsurance against anfaccidental release` of Vthey doors is gwen by'an inter-locking' of" certain parts of the mechanism, andthisl interlocking relationship zma'y be interru'pt` ed at will, whereupon the door opening,

closingk and locking operations? may takey #The-disposition of the elementsof the for the workmen engagedffin iia'riip'ulatl'y ing it. Y l y y In discharging' a'load and'reclosidqfand locking thedoors, ,theiwork'in'er usually en#` deavor'to' accomplish their"y task quickly and exercise little care,' and, therefore', 'the inech'r| anisin has" beenr made to hrequire but lsirnp'le'iiv action' to operate itanclisffree from fthe. necessity of careful adjustment to/*tigsrhtlyVl` cl'oseand ylock the 'doorsI-" Y Other yadva''ntagfes appearlns;VV hereinafter tion i v Referring' tof tne-`d1=awiigs`j1-f imiteams.'ay chain spool shaft, which passes through the nisnn 'nfay beV of'jconiparativelv light'fconare-to be,considered-agents ofthis inten@ hearingsy 2 and 3"securedfto"theside' Walls,

kand*bearingsEflanil 5 positioned-upon and afiXedto the Vcenterv sills, ofafcar.r Hand kwheelsI 6'- are securedto'k7 olrpositeA ends of shaft 1f tol pernit itto b'elrevolied to"effecty a winding' up"oflthe chains, as hereinafter more 'ullypsiet forth.`v`r y Y I u Wounted on 'the y"shaft i sV a chain spool 7, llocated between hearings 4 and 5,' 'and ratchet wheel 8 outside of bearing y5. The

` cylindrical, hub of the said ratchet-wheel d passes throughL and is directly and revolubly mounted in bearing 5, and one end of" spool 7- is mounted 1n like manner in bearing--4,1both said hub and said spool-end serving as bushings for shaft 1. i n

As spool shaft 1 is preferably of rectangular cross-section, and passes through similar shaped axial holes in said ratchetv wheel and spool, a rotary movement of hand wheel G causes a likemotion of said'ratchet, wheel, 8 and spool 7. The spool shaft 1,

however, is not necessarily restricted tothe section described, and the hand and ratchet wheels and the chain spool may be attached by keys, pins, or any convenient means.

Parallel to spool shaft 1, but shown as occupying a lower position, is a `coperatingv shaft 9, also, bypreference, having a rectangular cross-section. On each of its ends,.outside ofthe car lside walls, is se-4 curedan operating handle 10, weighted at its outer end. i f Y Y n Copcrating shaft 9 also receives its support from `bearings 2, 8, k4 and 5though, f

center sill-supported bearing 4. The hub of looking arm 11 is cylindrical and is revolubly supported in said bearing 4, and a bushing 13 surrounding coperating shaft 9, turnskin bearing 5 and supports the said shaftvat this point.

l The `center sill construction of the car comprises va pair of spaced apart longitudinal members, here conveniently shownfas channels 14having their topV and bottom `flanges inturned. `Below the top flanges,

and inwardly from shaft `9, is a sheave wheel 15, centrally disposed between the cen ter-sills 14, and supported by suitable bearings 16 attached to the inner faces of the sills. VProgressively spaced from sheave wheel 15,;and at substantially uniform distances, are rolls 17, also located between the center sills 14, but occupying a lower position than Y sheave 15. Rolls 17 are comparatively long,

being shown as nearly equal in` length to the distance betweenv the` center sills 14, tothe innerfaces ofy which bearingslS for said rolls are secured.

- v1Securely attached at one end to a proper pointon chain spool 7, is a two-part chain 19V, hereinafter referred to as the central chain. The two central chain parts are connected by asmall perforated triangular-y shaped connecting plate 20, and to the free end of the chain another plate 201 is secured.

MTo outwardly projecting corners of the chain connection plate 20, intermediateV the length of the central chain `19, are attached y forward side chains 21, one on each side of said central chain 19. Rear side chains 22 `are attached to corresponding corners of la second connection plate 20a at the rear free end of the central chain 19, and extend to and over the rear roll 17, the forward side chains 21 extending rearwardly from their plate 20 and extending to and over the forward roll 17. n

1 Each end of each side chain 21 and each side chainl 22after extending over its respective roll 17 passes through an aperture in a vdoor casting y23, secured to one of the Y doors 25, and is attached to an-adjustable eyebolt 24 carried by said casting.

The chains run underneath sheave wheel 15, whichikeeps central chain 19 running centrally, and over rolls 17 The latter permit side'play of side chains 21 and 22 when they are under the influence of the action of the doors. s The doors 25 are shown as being connected by hinges to supporting members at thev car sides, which members may be side sills. The doors extend inwardly toward the center sills 14, and their inner edges are adapted to bear thereagainst when the doors are closed. When the latter are open, they are adapted to.discharge lading below the center sills, as indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3.

Vhen the central chain 19 is -wound upon Chains 21 and 22, which arekconnected to the doors bythe eyebolts 24,`or other means,

and chain 19, to which said chains 21 and 22 areV also connected to be moved therewith, maybe .of comparatively light construction, since said chains are primarily intended to lift anddrawthedoors 25 to their closed positions after adischarge of lading and when the doorsare free from the weight of the lading. i

Dependence is not placed upon said chains 19, 21 and 22 to hold the kdoors ytightly closed, and the combined influence of the vibration of the car when in motion and of the weight ofthe load it carries is liable to tend to permit the doors 25 to sag fromthe center sills 14, threatening a siftingk through and loss of some kinds of lad* ing. Means is, therefore, provided for locking the doors in. place after they have been raised ltotheir closed positions by the door lifting chains 19, 21 and 22. f

iThe door-lifting means andthe door-lock- @Way with each other through the medium of co` operating shaft 9, and ratchet pawl 12 and' longitudinally ofthe car, prefenablypbetweenr the center sills 1e and consequently betw-een the doo-rs. f

The door llocking devices are best shown in Figs. 2, 3 land l, and each includes a casting 35, mounted upon the upper vflanges of the center sills 14, and is provided with a bearing 36. A rockable crank arm 37 is mounted in said bearing, and pivotally connected therewith and depending therefromis a link. ln Fig.- 3, the link is of ordinary form and is designated as 38. In Fig. 4, a link-39 containing a loop 40 therein is substituted for link 38,1anfd link 39 i'sincluded in those door locking .devices which are so located that the door lifting chains are required to extend through them. Loop 40 in -link 39 permits such cha-in passage in any ofV its positions, as is indicatedinllig. 4.

The lower ends of links Y38 and 39 are pivotally connected to locking dogs L1l, rockably mounted on'the 'lower ends of swing links Ll2, which in turn are p-ivoted to supporting castings 43 secured to center sills 14l and restingon the bottom flangesvthereof and extending below said flanges.

, Shaft 26 is mounted in bearings supported from the center sills and is operably con- Y nected with the doorlockingk devices, preferably beingiof rectangular cross'section and passing through conforming apertures in the hubs of crank arms 37 of the locking devices. Said shaft 26 at its forward end passes above sheave wheel 15 and terminates shortly behind and somewhat below covoperating shaft 9.. On this end o-f the longiv tudinallyextending shaft 26 is mounted a leo bifurcated crank arin 27, having a pair of outstanding arms. f

These arms are connected at their outer ends by a pin, whichalso passes through the inner endsof operating rods 28 rand 29. The latter extend transversely of the carin opponsite directions toward. the. car sides, which are perforated to allow the outer looped ends of said rods to partly pass therethrough, and the perforations are large enough to enable a trainnians army to pass freely through them in manipulating said rods 28 and 29. f To the inner faces ofv the carwalls, just below the perforations are secured inwardly extending brackets 30. It has been found convenient to form` them as pressings of angularcross section with inner upstanding projections, through each of which passes one of the operating rods 28 or 29, the looped end ofwhich is outside said projection. The

upstanding proj ections of brackets; 30,'there;y

fore, constitute stops limiting therinward thrustfof said operating rods. -f 'f v f yRevollubly mounted on operating rod 28 is a locking clip 31, located in intimate relation with locking' arm 11 carried by coper-` ating shaft 9. Retaining clips 32 are se# curely clamped to operating rod 28, oneon each side of-locking clip-31,y and each has projections 33, which overlap said locking clip toV normally holdA it ina position opp'os` ing locking arm 11, when shaft 9 is acting to prevent the unwinding of the chains. Figs. 1 and 3 best disclose this condition ofthe relationship. And `under this condition, the looped end of*y rod` `29,:by reason of its yproximity to the upstanding. projection of its bracket 30,A preventsinaterial inovementinone directionA of eitherxrod 28 or. 29. AOnfthe other hand, locking'larm 11 prevents the movementy of these rods in the other direction, lby obstructing llockingy clip 31. y canfbe no unintentionalrrelease of the doors.'

Theinterlocking between the door liftingk means yand the door lockingl means, previouslyreferred to, is also eective at this Consequently, there time as ratchet pawl 12 engages ratchetV i wheel 8 on shaft 1, preventing." the 'unwindingof chain spool or drum. .7 ,21nd, as just described, operating rods 28 and 29 ycannot` be moved to releaseor'unlock the locking devices.

, When a release of the doors is desired, one of the operating shaft handles 10,whi'chever it is most convenient to use, is thrown to revolve ioo cooperating shaft 9, whereupon ratchet pawl u 12fis thrown out of engagement with ratchet wheel. 8, and at the same timelockinggiarm 11 is .rotated out of the path of locking clip31. 'Y

Y .Either .operatingfrod28 is then pushed or operating rod 2 9 ispulled out, there being a consequent turning of crank arm 27,: which rocksshaft 26. The latter,*extending through the hubs `ofthe crank rarms 37 of the locking devices .in operative relation thereto,

rocks said crank arms yto raise links' 38 and 39,whichthen rook the locking ydogstl and cause the links- 42. supporting/them to swinginwardly. Locking dogs 41 are thus withdrawn from underthe doo-rs, which .drop by gravity to alading dischargingposition. As the doors drop they pullthe chains with them rapidly revolving :the spool 7, f

shaft .1, ratchet wheel 8 and hand wheels 6. ,After the discharge, cooperating shaft) handles 10 are returned to their, former positions, whereupon pawl i' 12 Aagain engages ratchet wheel 8, f preventing` retroaction `Aof shaft las it is being turned by hand` wheels 6V torewind the ehainupon spool 7, during thedoor .lifting1process.-

Returning operating yrods 28 and' to their initial positions, after the doorsyhave been raised, securely locks said doors in closed position by rocking shaft ,'26 in a re-l verse direction. y This reverses the action Lof the parts'of the door locking devices and causes locking dogs @Il to extendunder doors 25 to press them to their tightly closed positions.

That the parts of the door locking devices may not move excessively in returning to their door locking positions and beyond the locations shown in full lines in the'drawings, the crank arms 37, or some of them, are provided with heels or detents 37a, which may be integral parts of said crank arms. When the parts of door locking devices are returned to their dooi locking positions, detents 37a engage the top flange of one of the center, sills la and prevent further movement'of said door locking device parts.

Though locking arm ll is again -in its obstructing location before the operating rods 28 and 29 are restored to (their original places, the beveled lower face of locking clip 3l enables the latter to ride over locking arm ll, during which action the locking clip swings upwardly about operating rod 28. At the completion of its passage over lockingarin l1, locking vclip 3l swingsV by gravity back into its locking arm-opposing position, being prevented from two great a downward movement by projections of retaining clips 32. Y y

The car is-then ready to receive a new l* load, which,- when transported to its destination, may be discharged as just described.

The simplicity ofthe mechanism, its relative cheapness, its light but adequately strong construction, Atogether with Athe insurance it gives against loss of lading and of safety in operating it, all contributer to make it a valuable addition to the car building art. v

I claim; Y

l. In combination in a dumping car, a rockable. shaft extending longitudinally of said car, door locking means opera-bly connected with and controllable from said shaft, an angularly extending member fixed to said shaft and means operable from the side of said car adapted to' actuate said member to rock said shaft.

2. In combination in adumping car, a rockable shaft extending longitudinally of said car, door locking devices controllable from said shaft, and means adaptedto rock said shaft extending transversely of the car.

3. In combination in a dumping car,a plurality of doorshinged near theopposite sides of the car, a rockable shaft extending longitudinally of the lcar between said doors, door locking means operably Vconnected with said shaft and means adapted to rock said shaft from the side of the car to actuate said door locking means.

4f. In combination in.. a dumping car, spaced center sills, sidefsupporting members, doors extending from said side supporting members toward said center sills, rockable door locking means supported near said center sills, a shaft extending longitudinally of saidsills ,n and engaging saidudoor locking means and reciprocatory meansconnected with said shaft adaptedl to rock the same to actuate said locking means. p y

5". In 'combination in a dumping car, center sills, a rockable doorllockv operable between ksaid sills, center., dumping doors adapted to close to positions near said center sills, and means extending longitudinally and transversely ofthe car adapted to rock said door lock. i Y j 6. In combinationina dumping cai', doors hingedneartlieouter sides of the car, spaced center sills, ldoor. lifting means and rockable door locking vmeans operablebetween said center sills and y means extending transversely of the carI adapted to actuate said lifting .and locking'means.

7. In combinationL ina center dumping car having door lifting means movable longitudinally between center sills, spaced center sills, doors hinged near the sides of said lears adapted to dump lading below said sills, door locking ymeans through which the door lifting means is adapted to extend and means adapted tov actuate saidv door locking means. i i 8.1In combination in a center dumping car, opposed oppositely opening dumpinf doors, a suitable support, a rockable door loc i carried thereby and adaptedto engage the under sides of said dumping doors and rockable means Operable from either side of said car adapted to actuate said door lock to lock or release both doors simultaneously.

9. Inzcombination in a centerdumpcar, dumping doors, spaced center sills,vsupports carried by said sills, a shaft extending transversely of the canl means connecting said shaft and said doors and supportedl in part by said-supports and rockable door locking means carried by said sills.

l0. In combination in a dumping car, center dumping doors, center sills, door locking means carried by said sills, a rockable door-lock-actuating-shaft supported in operative relation to. said locking means-and means movable transversely of the car adapted to rock said shaft.

l1. In combination in a dumping car, center dumping doors, .center sills, door locking means'carriedby said sills, a rockable door-lock-actuating-shaft supported in operative relation to said locking means, means Lmovable transversely of the car adaptedto actuate said shaft and a stop adapted to coperate with saild transversely movable means to 'lock it in a predetermined position.v

IOO

l1,eprivati '13. Inv combination` sin' af dumping car,

spaced center sills/doors aidaipted"tof,close thereagai'nst, door Aloclrnrr means compris lockingV means and a "inovement-limiting tion' of one of said center sills. Y p

l14. In combination ina dumping cartliaving door raising means extending 'longitudinally of a center sill,`a`center'sill', a door adaptedto Kclose against the vsamepdoor stop on said lever adapted to engage a por-l locking means including van operating tog-A gle having a member providedv with a passage through which the door raising means is adapted to pass without interference and means for actuating said operating toggle.

15. In combination in a car door-locking means, means for engaging doors, an oper-k ating toggle therefor comprising a lever and a link lthe latter having a loop adapted to permit the passage of the door'raising means therethrough without interference irrespective of the position of said link.

16. In combination in a dumping car, a

rockable shaft extendingy longitudinally of the car, door locking devices controllable from said shaft, means for rocking the la't- Y ter comprising a crank attached to. said shaft and members connectedwith the crank and extending toward and operable from the carsides and supports for said members. l. 17 In combination in a. dumping car, rockable shaft extending longitudinally of the car, door locking devices controllable from said shaft, means for rocking the latter 'comprising rods connected therewith and extending toward the car sides, supports for said rods land means for preventing actuation of the rods at will comprising a revoluble shaft, a locking member thereon, a device on one of said rods adapted to interlock with said looking member` and portions on another of said rods and its support adapted to oppose each other.

18. In combination in a dumping car, a rockable shaft extending longitudinally of the car, door locking means controllable from said shaft,` operatingrods for said shaft extending toward the car sides, supports for said rods, and actuation preventing-and-permitting means for said operating rods comprising a krevoluble shaft, a locking member thereon, a device on one of said rods adapted to be opposed by said locking member and portions on another of said rods and on its support adapted to op- 65 pose each other, rotation of said revoluble l@ ing a'lto'g'gle having'a lever 4and a'link, means for rocking saidleverjto' actuate. said" door means adapted to co-act with door-raising letti1-moving Saifi'ieckieg 'member from therpatlrof said rod-carrieddevieeand per-y mi'tting actuation of 'saidoperat'in'g rods.

\ 19;'I`n a car door "lockingmechanism, doors f* adaptedto vclose against car center sills, a single llocking toggle having y,members supported from said sills l,oscillatory means, and an operating toggle comprising"afhnk,A

and' ai lever, an operatingshaftj to which said lever' ,is attached, Ysaid;lever having fa' datent` adapted to engageons of said sillsto limit" movement of said mechanismf'inone direc-` aifrn eombiaaaafinaear, a Staa-estending` longitudinally offthefcar, door 'lock-y ing 'a latches, 'a'c'tuating;l means 'therefor ioperable 'from the longitudinal shaft,"ineans the car, vdoor locking latches, actuating means therefor including a, member having an axis movable through the' path of said door liftingmeans and being operable from kfor rocking lsaid longitudinal shaft, and 'door lifting means vextending Athrough ay Zone of `movement, of saidr actuating means;

n `21. In combination in a car, door lifting means, a shaft extending longitudinally of the longitudinal shaft and means extending transversely of theoar for rocking. said p u longitudinal shaft. n y,

22. In, combinationin a oar, oppositely opening-dumping doors, door closing means, y

a single door latch-operating shaftk extendinglongitudinally of the car,fdoor locking 'latches adapted to 'lock or release said oppositely opening doors, and Ilatch-actuating ico means operable-by vsaid [longitudinal shaft r and-nonfinterferingly ,embracingv` said door closing means.' f f l Y vided with flanges in their lower portions,

simultaneouslyk actuateall of said mechanisms, and castingsymounted uponsaid sills adapted to sustain a longitudinal hop- .per hood, some of said castingsihaving' bearings for said shaft projecting between said sills in proximity to said locking mechanisms therebetween.

l23.? In afdu'iping car, center sills' pro- Y 24:. In a dumping car, center sills provided I with flanges in their lower portions ldoors adapted to close againstl said flanges,y a plu-A ralitykof door-locking mechanisms for supporting or releasing said doors, a shaft adapted to simultaneously actuate allv of said mechanisms, and castings mounted l upon said sills adapted to sustain'a longitudinal hopper hood, some ofL said castings having bearings for said`shaft,and some of said castings Ybeing recessed to facilitate the operation of said mechanisms.

,25. In\ a car door locking'mechanism,

doors, car center sillsagainst the bottom ofk which saidv doorsare adapted to close, said sills having flanges .and Webs, supporting castings sustained by said sills and resting upon said flanges, a plurality of oscillatory v links pivoted tosaid castings, locking 'dogs pivoted to said links and having their inner ends pivoted together, and operating means for said locking dogs.y i

y26. Ina car door operating mechanism, car center sills against the bottom of Which said doors are adapted to close, said sills having ianges and Webs, supporting c`astings sustained by said sills resting upon said flangesl and passing through Iand below the saine, aplnrality of oscillatory links pivoted to said castings, locking dogs pivoted intermediate their lengths to said links and having their inner ends pivoted tobly positioned Vabutment adapted to be engaged `by said stop to limit the movement of said actuating means. n In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

" JOHN M; ROHI'JFINGLl Witnesses; v

JAMES J. COOPER, y ROBERT J. SCHEIBLI,Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forivve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

i Washington, D. C. '.5 Y l 

